| 1. Q: Why do I
need an uninterruptible power supply (UPS)? |
| A: If
you need optimum performance and longevity from your
electronic equipment and if you
need a reliable short-term
backup power source in the event of a blackout, then you
need a UPS to protect your equipment. |
| 2. Q: Should I
put a UPS at each workstation? |
| A:
Yes, it is a good idea because this is where the most
recent work is being done, and this data is most
vulnerable to loss or corruption in the event of power
outage. |
| 3. Q: How do I
determine what size UPS to get? |
|
A: UPS's are sized by their volt-amp
(VA) load. To calculate the VA load of your system
check the UL label for the operating voltage and
amperage drawn*. Add the amperages of each component
to be powered by the UPS and multiply the number by
the voltage (120V for US applications). This number
is your VA load and the minimum size required.
It is a good idea to size your UPS at least 30%
larger than minimum VA load to leave room for future
needs. *Note: Many computers' UL label list 3 or 4
amps. This is a maximum draw. Typical computers will
draw 1 to 2 amps under a standard configuration. |
| 4. Q: Why Do I
Need UPSMON (The Power Monitoring and Automatic Shutdown
Software)?
|
|
A: During a power interruption, a
decision must be made when and if to gracefully
shutdown the computer system. On a computer system
that always has someone within earshot and eyeshot,
this is usually done manually - when the UPS kicks
on during a power failure, the administrator decides
whether to ride it out on battery power or to save
files and close programs.
However, on an
unattended computer system, nobody is around to make
that decision. In this case, during a power failure,
the UPS will kick on and run the computer system,
but only until its battery is depleted.
Therefore, it is important to have automatic
shutdown software that will safely shut down the
computer system after a pre-configured time period
of when the computer receives a low battery signal
from the UPS. UPS monitoring and automatic shutdown
software also can broadcast power fail messages to
network workstations, keep an historical log of
abnormal power conditions, and alert the system to
page the administrator. |
| 5. Q: Can UPS
Software from One UPS Manufacturer be used With a
Different Brand of UPS? |
|
A: Generally not, different software
programs have different ways of communicating; use
different cable topologies, and different brands of
UPSs have different pin assignments on the serial
interface port on the UPS. |
| 6. Q: What is
Buck and Boost? |
|
A: Buck and boost are terms used in
reference to certain types of voltage regulation. A
UPS with built-in voltage regulation capabilities
provides correction of over voltage and under
voltage situations. Buck lowers a high voltage and
boost raises a low voltage. |
| 7. Q: What is a
"Smart" UPS? |
|
A: The real meaning of "smart" UPS is
one, which has a built-in microprocessor and RS-232
interface port. Many people mistakenly believe that
in order to have an automatic shutdown capability,
an UPS must be "smart". In fact, a UPS with a
contact closure serial interface port can normally
do an automatic shutdown.
A "smart" UPS adds the
additional functionality of being able to monitor
more operating parameters, for example: Input &
Output Voltage, Input & Output Frequency, Load
Level, Battery Level, Battery Level, and etc. |
| 8. Q: Is there
Any Equipment I should Not Connect to My UPS? |
|
A: In general, you shouldn't connect
a laser printer to your UPS because a laser printer
draws tremendous amount of power and will likely
overload your UPS and cause the UPS fuse to blow.
Most other office equipment, such as computers,
monitors, fax machines, and networking equipment,
should work fine with most UPSs. Do bear in mind
that larger size monitors consume much more power
than smaller monitors and will likely reduce battery
runtime significantly.
You should not connect a Surge Suppressor at the
output of UPS. If you have a Surge Suppressor need to be
used, please plug the Surge Suppressor to the receptacle
on the wall, and plug the UPS to the Surge Suppressor,
so that in case the Surge Suppressor activated under
Spike strike, the closure of MOV in the Surge Suppressor
will not create a short circuit and damage the UPS.
|
| 9. Q: The charge
light (Yellow) on my King Office UPS is always
illuminated, is this unit defective? |
| A:
The charging light is normally illuminated on King
Office Models (KOF-500S, KOF-600S, KOF-750S). |
| 10. Q: There is
no power from my King Office UPS, I pushed the power
switch button and nothing happens? |
|
A: The power switch is located on the
top of the unit and labeled "on/test". To turn the
UPS on, depress the button and hold if down (for
about 2 to 3 seconds) until the green LED light
"Line OK" turns on and stays on. When the unit is
activated, it performs a self-test for a short
period of time. During this process, the Line OK
light will turn off momentarily and the Backup LED
will turn on. After approximately 2 seconds, the
Backup LED turns off and the Link OK LED will turn
on and remain steady. |
| 11. Q: What are
the symptoms of "bad power"? |
|
A: Commonly, bad power causes a
computer's monitor and indicator lights to waver or
flicker, unexplained errors in data transmission,
sudden loss of Internet access, a system lockup,
aborted modem transfers, and hard drive crashes. |
| 12. Q: What are
the consequences of power problems? |
|
A: Even minor power problems can cost
you money. Anytime a power interruption delays your
work in progress, that's your valuable time you've
lost, and lost time means lost money.
More
serious and expensive, is the fact that power
problems can not only corrupt expensive data files,
but also can permanently damage computers, networks,
and precision electronics. |
| 13. Q: How can
power problems be avoided? |
|
A: By always connecting your
sensitive electronic equipment to a power
conditioner, surge protector, and for the best
protection an uninterruptible power system (UPS).
Problems such as blackouts cannot be eliminated, but
the damage they cause can be prevented with a UPS,
which maintains a steady flow of power until the
system can be safely or automatically shut down. |
| 14. Q: The mouse
uses COM 1 and COM 3 is used by an internal modem. The
UPS cable is connected to COM 2 but there is still a
conflict. What will cause this? |
|
A: The default hardware interrupt
(IRQ) settings for COM 1 and COM 2 are IRQ 4 and IRQ
3 respectively. If the modem on COM 3 is using IRQ 3
there will be a conflict with the UPS on COM 2.
Since serial devices cannot share a communications
port or its hardware interrupts, the interrupt for
the modem must be altered. Check with the modem
manual to find out how to change the IRQ setting.
Suggested IRQ includes 5 and 10. If there are no
free IRQ's in your system, you can use IRQ7 since
LPT1 is capable of sharing its IRQ. |
| 15. Q: What is
SNMP? |
|
A: Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) is a family of protocols that provide a means
for monitoring and controlling networked devices.
Computer vendors have built into some network
devices, including some UPS models, network
management capabilities so that you can query their
status remotely, as devices are usually referred to
as "smart" devices. |
| 16. Q: What is
the battery life span for my UPS? |
| A:
The batteries life span is 3-5 years, depending on the
amount of time the battery is used in back up. |
| 17. Q: How do I
know when to replace the battery for my UPS? |
|
A: When the battery fault light
indicator is lit, this usually means something is
wrong with the battery. To check the battery for
defects, use a voltmeter. If the battery measures 12
volts, or above, it may be fine. If the battery
measures less than 12 volts and cannot be charged
back to normal, the battery is defective and needs
to be replaced. |
